Take advantage of free entry to the museum until 23 January, 2014
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne will reopen its doors to the public on Saturday 21 December 2013, after 23 months of work. The new Museum, which has been entirely revamped, will integrate the latest technological innovations and a new, themed museographic approach. A unique experience will be on offer to visitors: an invitation to dive into the history, legacy, dreams, challenges and values that have contributed to making the Olympic Movement what it is today. The public can visit The Museum free of charge until 23 January, 2014.
The new Museum
The extension and architectural renovation of The Olympic Museum, which were entrusted to Lausanne architects, Brauen & Wälchli, have allowed the museum to create new exhibition areas. The design, creation and installation of the visitors’ route are the work of a multidisciplinary team, bringing together the museographic experience and talent of several renowned international companies.
The visitors’ route starts with discovering the Olympic Park, which has been entirely redesigned by the Lausanne agency, L’Atelier du Paysage. Extended and enhanced, it hosts works by great contemporary artists, such as Arnoldi, Berrocal, Botero, Chillida, Folon, Graham, Niki de Saint-Phalle and Tàpies, blending in with sports installations, such as an athletics track, high-jump bar and shot put circle. On the Museum forecourt, a statue of Pierre de Coubertin welcomes visitors, while the eternal fire burning in the cauldron recalls the origin of the Games.
Inside The Museum, covering an exhibition area that has been almost doubled (3,000m2), the permanent exhibition now spans three levels. The visitors first enter the Olympic World, from the Games of antiquity to the modern Games. On this level, the visitor will discover Olympia, Coubertin’s vision, the history of the Movement, the incredible creativity and consideration of their future shown by the host cities, and the spread of Olympism through the world and throughout history.
The experience continues through the heart of the Olympic Games. This second level reveals the stories of champions, delving into the evolution of the Olympic disciplines. The drama and intensity of these exceptional moments are illustrated using the latest audio-visual immersion techniques and a database of more than 1,000 video clips.
The last part of the visit provides a more intimate experience, meeting the athletes through a dive into the heart of the Olympic Village or through virtual meetings with great champions as well as with lesser-known Olympians whose extraordinary stories deserve to be told. The Olympic spirit is the cornerstone of this last section of the visit.
Temporary exhibitions hosted by The Olympic Museum at its reopening
The Olympic Museum, the Metamorphosis is an exhibition retracing the intellectual and operational approach to the renovation work, introducing the service providers involved. This exhibition is open until 15 January 2014 and is aimed at the general public as well as trade professionals. Its creation and graphic design were entrusted to the companies Metaphor and Base Design, and its scenography to the Erwin de Muer Studio.
Celebrating the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, The Olympic Museum is presenting a full programme on the theme of Russia, including an exhibition entitled The Russian Avant.-garde and sport from 24 January to 11 May 2014. The exhibition’s subject is the image of sport in the Soviet Union of the 1920s and ‘30s as portrayed in the work of various Avant-garde artist groups, particularly in the areas of photography, cinema and graphic design, showing how these artists changed the way sport was depicted and athletes presented.
A special programme including live broadcasts of the Games, concerts, events, traditional cookery and Russian folklore will also be on offer at The Museum from 7 to 23 February.
The Olympic Museum opening hours
Reopens on 21 December 2013 at 10 a.m.
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Until 30 April 2014: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Mondays, apart from Easter Monday or for special events.
From 1 May to 14 October: Open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entry prices
Free entry until 23 January 2014
As from 24 January 2014:
Full price: CHF 18 – Children aged 6 to 16: CHF 10 – Family (max. 2 adults and 2 children): CHF 40 - Seniors (aged 65 and above): CHF 16 – Students / Registered disabled: CHF 12
The temporary Museum, located on the Helvétie boat, closed its doors on 27 October 2013. The collections that had been displayed there returned to The Museum’s main building with a view to its reopening on 21 December. The information stand on the Ouchy quayside remains open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ahead of its reopening, The Olympic Museum was officially inaugurated on 10 December by the IOC President, Thomas Bach, at the ceremony marking the handover of keys from Honorary President Jacques Rogge to his successor. The ceremony took place in presence of IOC Members and Swiss authorities representatives.
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne was inaugurated on 23 June 1993. It has welcomed more than three million visitors in just under 20 years of existence and has produced more than 200 temporary exhibitions, including some 50 exhibitions outside its walls. Its mission is to explain and share the Olympic idea beyond the celebration of the Games, and to promote and highlight Olympism’s contribution to the society of yesterday, today and tomorrow. To accomplish this, it uses the stories of all those – champions, participants, officials, creators, artists, architects and volunteers – who come together to stage, every two years, the greatest event of our time.
NEWS
As well as its permanent exhibition, The Olympic Museum offers temporary exhibitions and a varied cultural programme throughout the year. Special programmes are created for each edition of the Games.
Forthcoming events:
21 December 2013: reopening of The Museum to the public. After 23 months of work, visitors can enjoy a weekend full of surprises and celebrations.
Exhibitions and special programmes:
Until 5 January 2014: The Olympic Museum, the Metamorphosis, exhibition illustrating the major milestones in the Museum renovation project.
24 January - 11 May: The Russian Avant-Garde and Sport
24 January - 9 March: Sochi Live! Special programme to mark the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Exhibitions, animations, live broadcasting of the Olympic Games
24 May 2014 - 18 January 2015: Time and Sport
The Olympic Museum
1, quai d'Ouchy
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland
021 621 65 11
www.olympic.org/museum
All photos copyright CIO
